Tyrone Mings Aston Villa
Steven Gerrard has conceded that Morgan Sanson and Douglas Luiz are unlikely to feature for Aston Villa this weekend. Douglas has been out with a hamstring issue having missed the defeats to West Ham and Southampton, while French midfielder Sanson also missed the same two squads due to illness. It’s understood Sanson has picked up a knock having spent time in Paris on a family holiday last weekend. Offering a team news update, Gerrard also outlined that Egyptian winger Trezeguet is being integrated in slowly off the back of knee ligament damage sustained in April.
Steven Gerrard said: “I think it’ll be too soon for Douglas Luiz and for Morgan Sanson. Trezeguet is off the back of a long term injury but we are trying to integrate him into team sessions now which is positive. The rest are good to go and I’m really looking forward to picking that first XI, that first squad. Straightaway there are tough decisions for me to face but I’m really looking forward to doing it.”
Elsewhere, Gerrard was asked who his new captain will be with the ex-Rangers chief admitting to not wanting to rock the boat too much with Tyrone Mings set to keep the armband.
Steven Gerrard said: “When you come into a club during a season, you are not going to turn the club upside down. The captaincy is one of the decisions I am going to be analysing moving forward. I spoke to Tyrone on a couple of occasions. Once while he was away with England, once face to face on Tuesday afternoon. He will remain captain in the short term and he will be given every opportunity to impress us and prove he can be the right man for the job. In terms of the long-term decision on that role I don’t have to commit to that today.”
Gerrard, meanwhile, told how it’s a clean slate for each and every member of Aston Villa’s squad of players.
Steven Gerrard said: “When we spoke to the players, we were very clear in not focusing on yesterday and what has gone on before. We wanted to be positive, upbeat and looking forward to the challenges in front of us. We need to be very much aware of our current form but this weekend gives us an opportunity to change it. I am sure there will be a full house here, I am sure the fans will be terrific, we need to give them a performance to be proud of. Compared to what we have done this season, we need more individually and collectively. When we do and when the players produce that I am confident you will see change.”
